Gooseneck structure for silo distributors

ABSTRACT

A gooseneck fill duct assembly wherein a gooseneck fill duct of hinged sections is removably supported by a framework structure adjacent the upper margin of a silo wall, including a decouplable hinge connection. The duct sections are hinged adjacent the bottom of the duct so that the discharge end portion of the duct can swing downwardly from normal position adjacent the center axis of the silo to a retracted position.

United States Patent [72] Inventors William L. Ryder;

Benjamin H. Roach, Chambersburg, Pa. {21] Appl. No. 827,399

[22] Filed May 23, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee said Benjamin A. Roach assignor to Ryder Supply Company Chambersburg, Pa.

[54] GOOSENECK STRUCTURE FOR SILO DISTRIBUTORS 16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 214/17, 302/60 {51] Int. Cl ..B65g 65/32, B65g 51/18 [50] Field of Search 214/17.6,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,353,691 11/1967 Boppart et a]. 214/17(.6) 3,481,496 12/1969 Buschbom 214/17(.6)

Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence ABSTRACT: A gooseneck fill duct assembly wherein a gooseneck fill duct of hinged sections is removably supported by a framework structure adjacent the upper margin of a silo wall, including a decouplable hinge connection. The duct sections are hinged adjacent the bottom of the duct so that the discharge end portion of the duct can swing downwardly from normal position adjacent the center axis of the silo to a retracted position.

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WILLIAM L. RYDER BENJAMIN HJZQAcH I GODSENECII STRUCTURE FOR SIM) DISTRIBUTORS THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to gooseneck structures for tower silos, and more particularly to the construction of gooseneck fill ducts and the mounting structure therefor for supporting the gooseneck fill duct at the top of the tower silo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It has been a common practice for many years to provide a gooseneck fill duct or fill pipe of generally arcuate configuration at the top of tower silos, with the inlet end of the gooseneck duct supported adjacent the sidewall of the silo and the discharge end disposed substantially at the center of the silo and usually supporting some type of distributing device to effect distribution of the silage throughout the interior area of the silo. The inlet end of the gooseneck fill duct communicates with the upper end of the usual vertical blower pipe extending along the exterior of the silo sidewall and is supported some sort of supporting structure affixed to the silo sidewall adjacent the top of the silo. Frequently, this mounting structure is in the form of a framework of structural iron members such as angle irons surrounding the upper end of the blower pipe and having vertical structural iron members fixed to the framework and to the silo sidewalls as well as diagonal brace members. The inlet end of the gooseneck fill duct is usually assembled to this frame by a plurality of bolts so that the gooseneck can be installed or demounted as required by the owner, which in many instances projects through the duct walls and requires access to the duct interior to secure and unfasten the bolts. This earlier construction makes it quite difficult to install the gooseneck fill duct in an empty silo or to adjust and remove the gooseneck fill duct if and when repairs are needed.

Also, the discharge end of the usual gooseneck fill duct, and the distributor carried thereby, occupy a region close to the vertical center of the silo, presenting an obstacle to raising and lowering a silo unloader through this region of the silo. Furthermore, the gooseneck fill duct is usually a rigid structure and is mounted in such a position that it is difficult to fill the silo up into the roof portion to properly top out" the silo.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel gooseneck fill duct structure and mount therefor for tower silos, which will avoid these difficulties, by permitting a selected length of the discharge end portion of the gooseneck duct to be hinged downwardly to a position permitting ready passage of the silo unloader, and wherein the gooseneck duct is so constructed relative to its mounting framework as to facilitate installation and demounting of the gooseneck duct.

Another object is the provision of a gooseneck fill duct structure and mount as described in the preceding paragraph, wherein foldable braces between the hingedly connected duct sections and a winch are employed to facilitate movement of the hinged discharge end portion.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. I is a fragmentary vertical section view through the upper portion of a tower silo showing the gooseneck fill duct and the mounting framework therefor of the present invention operatively mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section view similar to FIG. I, but illustrating the gooseneck fill duct in process of being elevated to a position to be assembled with the mounting framework;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section view similar to FIG. I, but showing the gooseneck-end in downwardly folded or hinged condition to allow passage of the silo unloader;

FIG. 43 is an exploded perspective view of the frame portion of the mounting framework and the adjacent inlet portion of the gooseneck duct;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view to enlarged scale of the mounting framework with the gooseneck duct removed therefrom, and showing the pulley fixture facilitating elevation of the gooseneck duct assembled thereon; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the adjacent portions of the base and terminal sections of the gooseneck duct showing the hinge connection between them.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, there is shown the upper portion of a tower silo 10 of cylindrical configuration having sidewalls 11 and a generally domeshaped roof 12. A conventional vertical blower duct or pipe I3 extends upwardly along the exterior of the sidewalls ll of the silo and terminates at an upper end located at approximately the level of the top of the sidewalls I1. The gooseneck fill duct of the present invention, indicated generally by the reference character 14, communicates at its inlet end 14a with the upper end of the blower duct 13 and extends through the usual access opening 12a in the roof along an upwardly arching path defining a downwardly concave gooseneck which terminates in a discharge end 14b adjacent the vertical center of the silo. Customarily, a silo distributor, shown in phantom lines in FIG. I, and indicated by the reference character I5, is mounted on the discharge end 1412 of the gooseneck fill duct 14 to distribute the silage throughout the silo. An example of such a silo distributor is disclosed in the earlier patent application of Benjamin H. Roach, Ser. No. 679,492, filed Oct. 31, 1967. The gooseneck fill duct I4 is removably supported at the top of the blower duct I3 by a mounting framework structure I 6, affixed to the sidewalls II of the silo, the construction of which will be later described in detail.

In the embodiment herein illustrated, the gooseneck fill duct I4 is constructed of two elongated, curved duct sections, one being a first or base section I7 extending from the inlet end 14a to the medial region of the gooseneck duct and the other being a second or terminal section 18 extending from the midregion to the discharge end 14b. The base section 17 is formed of sheet material defining a curved top wall and depending parallel sidewalls 17b, and includes a bottom wall 170 extending from the inlet end I4a an appropriate distance toward the opposite end of the base section, the bottom of the base section I7 being downwardly open over the remaining portion of that section. The terminal section I8 is similarly formed of a curved top wall and a pair of parallel depending side walls I817 formed of sheet metal to define a ductlike, downwardly opening channel along the length of the terminal section I8.

The adjoining end portions of the gooseneck fill duct sections 17 and I8 in the medial region of the gooseneck are each framed along the side and top walls of the respective sections I7, I8, by three angle iron framing members defining inverted U-shaped frames generally indicated at I9, 20, respectively fixed to the base section I7 and terminal section 18 with one flange of each of the angle iron frame members projecting outwardly from the adjoining top or sidewall of the associated sections 17, I8, to be disposed in parallel abutment when the sections are in the normal position illustrated in FIG. I. For example, the U-shaped frame 19 is formed of atop angle iron member 19a and side angle iron members 1% having one flange of each member secured flush against the top wall I7a and sidewalls I7b of the base section I7 and the U-shaped frame 20 comprises top angle iron member 20a and side angle iron members 2012 having one flange secured to the top wall I81: and sidewalls 18b of the terminal section 18. These frame members are arranged so that the outwardly projecting flanges of the angle iron members forming frame I9 will be aligned with and abut the outwardly projecting flanges of the frame 20 when the gooseneck sections are in the normal raised position illustrated in FIG. 1.- At the lower end of the side angle iron members of one of the frames, for example the members 19b of frame 19, apertures are provided to be aligned with similar apertures in offset lug formations 21 extending from the lowermost end portions of the side angle iron members of the other frame, for example, the frame 20, through which bolts or hinge pins 22 are fitted to form a hinge joint adjacent the lower edges of the sidewalls of the sections 17, i8, whereby the terminal section 18 can be folded downwardly about the hinge axis to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Longitudinal angle iron bracing members 23 are provided alongside the sidewalls 18b of the terminal section 18 extending from the upper portion of the frame 20 to a location near thedischarge end of the terminal section 18 with the vertical flanges of the angle iron braces 23 welded or otherwise suitably fixed to the sidewalls 18b to brace the terminal section i8. Similar angle iron braces 24 extend from the upper region of the frame 19 alongside the sidewalls 17b of the base section to the inlet end Ma of the gooseneck with the vertical flanges thereof welded or otherwise secured to the sidewalls 17b to brace the base section 17. A rectangular frame 25 of angle iron frame members is also provided at the inlet end 140 having angle iron members 25:; and c respectively secured to the top and bottom walls 170 and 17c and angle iron members 25b secured to the sidewalls 17b with one of the flanges of each of these angle iron members projecting outwardly from the adjoining wall of the duct section and lying in a single plane.

An upwardly foldable brace structure 26 also extends between portions of the section 17, 18, spaced from their common hinge axis at the hinge pins 22, comprising a first pair of angle iron members 260 pivotally connected to the ends of the braces 23 nearest the discharge end lb and a second pair of angle iron brace members 2612 pivotally connected to the braces 24 near the inlet end 140, with the adjacent ends of the angle iron braces 26a and b pivotally connected together by a pivot pin 27, or a plurality of pivot pins or bolts, extending through registering apertures in the vertical flanges of the angle iron member 26a and 26b. The apertures for the pivot pin 27 in the angle members 26a are spaced slightly lower from the top edges of the vertical flanges than in the angle iron members 26b, and are located some distance back from the adjacent ends of the angle iron members 26a so that a portion of the upper flanges of these angle iron members overlap the upper flanges of the angle iron members 26b. The disposition of the apertures for the pivot pin 27 and the top flanges of the angle iron members are such that an overcenter hinge joint is provided whereby the hinge axis of the pivot pin 27 is slightly below the center line interconnecting the relatively remote ends of the angle iron members 26a, 26b which are pivoted to the braces 23 and 24 to restrain the foldable brace structure 26 in erect position as illustrated in FIG. 1 under normal operation. However, when the angle iron members 26b are forced upwardly about the pivotal connection with the braces 24 sufficient to shift the axis of the pivot pin 27 above the center line, the brace structure 26 can be folded upwardly and the hinged terminal duct section 18 folded downwardly to assume the FIG. 3 position for withdrawing the discharge end Mb of the gooseneck fill duct outwardly toward the sidewall 11 of the silo and thusprovide adequate room for raising or lowering a silo unloader through the zone previously occupied by the discharge end Mb and the silo distributor 15.

The mounting framework structure 16 for the gooseneck fill duct 14, as is more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, comprises a pair of parallel vertical angle iron frame members 30 adapted to be fastened to the silo sidewalls ill and having a rectangular frame 31 secured to the frame members 30 formed of four channel iron members 31a, 12 and c welded together at their ends and welded at two of their comers to the angle iron members 30. Diagonal bracing members 32 may also be welded at their opposite ends to the outer corners of the frame 3! and to the vertical angle iron members 30 as illustrated. The upper outwardly projecting flanges of the channel iron members 31a 3lc define a flat rectangular frame face which conforms to and is adapted to register with the flat rectangular frame face defined by the frame members 250, b and c. The outennost edge portion of the top flange of the channel iron member 310 of frame 31 has a tubular hinge knuckle segment 33 welded thereto and the outer edge of the outwardly projecting flange of frame member 25c on the inlet end of base section 17 has a pair of spaced companion hinge knuckle segments 34 to receive the hinge knuckle segments 33 therebetween with the bores defined thereby registering to removably receive a hinge pin 34a for securing the frame 25 on the base section 17 to the frame 31 on the mounting framework structure 16. The outwardly projecting flanges of the frame members 31a and 25a on the frames 3! and 25, respectively, which parallel the previously mentioned frame members, are provided with bolt openings therein adapted to register with each other when the base section [7 assumes the position illustrated in FIG. 1 for mounting bolts 35 to be assembled through these apertures in the flanges 31a and 25 a to complete securement of the base section 17 on the frame 3R of the mounting framework structure 16.

The mounting framework structure 16 also has a hand winch 36 mounted on the outer frame member 31a thereof. having a crank arm 36a for manual operation of the winch, and a winch drum of conventional construction about which is trained and secured a cable 37 extending along the top wall of the gooseneck duct sections 17, 18. The outermost end of the winch cable 37 has suitable means for selectively releasably coupling the cable or the distributor 15 to the discharge end portion of the terminal section 18 of the fill duct 14. For example, a coupling plate 38 may be fastened to the top wall 18a of the terminal section 18 adjacent the discharge end 14b to mate with portions of the upper mounting plate structure of the distributor 15, the coupling plate 33 having an aperture at its upper end through which the cable 37 is passed, and the cable having an enlargement on its free end on which a laterally slotted coupler or collar 37a may be removably fitted to hold the cable end against withdrawal from the coupling plate aperture, all as disclosed in the above-mentioned pending patent application, Ser. NO. 679,492. Also, as there disclosed, the coupler 37a can be removed from the cable end when desired and the cable inserted through an aperture in the mounting plate structure for the silo distributor l5 and the coupler 37a reassembled with the cable, when desired, to permit the silo distributor to be raised and lowered relative to the gooseneck fill duct.

To properly position the cable 37 for raising and lowering of the gooseneck fill duct 14 during installation or removal from mounted condition on the mounting framework structure 16, a removably pulley fixture 40 is provided, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, comprising simply an elongated bar 41 having a pulley 42 pivotally supported at the outer end thereof and having a channel-shaped foot 43 at the opposite end adapted to be disposed within the frame 31 of the mounting framework structure in outwardly bearing relation against the outer channel iron frame member 33a with the web and sides of the foot d3 embracing the web and sides of the channel iron frame member 3Ha.'A depending leg 44 is fixed, as by welding, to the elongated bar 41 in the medial region of the bar and has a transversely extending angle iron-foot 45 fixed to its lower end from which a pair of pins 45a depend adapted to fit in the cornets of the frame 31 defined by the junctures between the channel iron frame member 31c and the side channel iron frame members 3112.

To install the gooseneck duct and mounting assembly of the present invention on a silo, the mounting framework structure 16. is first fastened in position to the silo sidewalls it adjacent the top thereof, as by bolting the angle iron frame members 30 to the silo sidewalls. The removably pulley fixture 40 is then assembled on the frame 31 on the mounting framework structure 16 by fitting the channel-shaped foot 43 inwardly against the channel iron frame member 31a and positioning the pins 450 in the corners of the opening defined by the frame 31 adjacent the channel iron frame member 3k. in this position, the elongated bar it of the pulley fixture 434i extends along an upwardly inclined path from the outwardly disposed channel iron frame member 31a to locate the pulley 42 above the edge of the silo sidewalls ill and slightly inwardly of the adjacent sidewall portions toward the center axis of the silo. The cable 37 is then drawn off of the winch 36 about the pulley 42 and withdrawn downwardly to a location near the bottom of the silo. The coupling head member 37a is removed from the free end of the cable 37, and the free end of the cable is trained through the bight of a cable guiding book 46 welded in the center of the angle iron frame member 25a of base section frame 25 and then along the curving top walls 117a, 18a of sections 17 and 18 through the center opening in the top angle iron members 1911 and 20a of U-shaped frames 19, 20, to the discharge end Mb of the fill duct where the free end of the cable is assembled to the discharge end portion of the duct, as by feeding it through an opening ina distributor mounting plate 38 and reassemblying coupling head 37a and a cable return weight 37b of sufficient mass'to insure lowering of the end of the cable upon unwinding of the winch, on the free end of the cable. The hand winch 36 is then operated, as by rotating the crank arm 36a, to wind the cable 36 on the hand winch drum and thereby draw the gooseneck fill duct 14 upwardly along the inside surface of the silo sidewalls 11 until the inlet end 140 thereof reaches the level of the frame 31, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The inlet end portion of the fill duct is then manually grasped and drawn outwardly just above the top edge of the silo sidewalls until the hinge knuckle segments 34 on the base section frame member 250 register with and flank the hinge knuckle 33 on the channel iron frame member 310 whereupon the removable hinge pin 34a is inserted through the aligned openings in the hinge knuckle segments to pivotally couple the inlet end of the fill duct to the mounting framework structure 16. While the full duct is supported in a downwardly hanging position similar to that illustrated in FIG.

2 hanging from the hinge pins 35 and winch 36 is reversed enough to slightly slacken the cable 37, the cable is withdrawn from the cable guiding hook at, and the pulley fixture do is removed from the mounting framework structure 16. Then upon further operation of the hand winch 36 in a direction to wind more cable upon the drum, the gooseneck fill duct i4 is drawn upwardly by the cable 36 about the hinge axis defined by the hinge pin 35 until the duct lid reaches the fully raised position with the outwardly projecting flanges of the angle iron frame members 25a -25c upwardly abutting the top flanges of the channel iron frame members 33a 3ic. The mounting bolts can then be assembled through the registering openings in the channel iron frame members 31a and the angle iron frame members 25a to complete the mounting of the gooseneckfill duct on the mounting framework structure to. To assemble the silo distributor on the discharge end of the gooseneck fill duct 14, the hand winch 36 can then be operated in an unwinding direction to lower the free end of the cable, having the coupling head 37a and cable return weight 37b thereon to a level where it can be reached by persons standing on the floor of the silo, whereupon the coupler 37a and weight 37 b may be removed, and the free end of the cable may then be' assembled to the mounting plate structure of the silo distributor i5 and the silo distributor drawn upwardly to mounted condition on the discharge end portion of the fill duct, for example, in a manner disclosed in said earlier patent application, Ser. No. 679,492.

it will be apparent that the silo distributor 15 can be removed by reversing the above-described procedure, and gooseneck fill duct 34 lowered back to the floor level of the silo by following a reverse procedure to that prescribed for elevating the fill duct to assembled condition on the mounting framework structure 16.

The gooseneck fill duct sections l7, 18 may be made in various lengths, to be assembled in various combinations and provide a gooseneck duct assembly for silos of many different radii by simply interchanging sections of different lengths.

When it is desired to draw the discharge end portion of the ample, to provide space for passage of a silo unloader upwardly or downwardly alongside the till duct discharge end,-

the winch and cable are manipulated to lower and remove the distributor, the cable is again raised, the foldable brace structure 26 is simply bumped upwardly to force the brace portions 26b upwardly to the folded position illustrated in FIG. 3, and the winch is unwound to lower the discharge end section.' Also, this design is such that when the gooseneck structure is in the folded condition illustrated in FIG. 3, it is possible to fill the silo with silage up into the roof portion to properly top out" the silo. This is because the silage is discharged through the opening formed between the base section 17 and terminal section 18 when these sections are in the folded positions, which opening is located near the apex or uppermost level of the arcuate path of the gooseneck fill duct 14 and thus permits discharge of ensilage along flow paths which will effect filling into the roof region.

We claim:

ll. A gooseneck fill duct assembly for a tower silo including a silo wall having a vertical silage supply blower pipe extending externally therealong and a dome roof covering a roof region above the-upper margin of the silo wall and having a side opening therein adjacent said upper margin; the assembly comprising a mounting framework structure to be secured externally against said silo wall adjacent said upper margin having first frame means defining a substantially horizontal flat rectangular first frame surrounding said blower pipe outwardly adjacent said upper margin; a gooseneck fill duct of generally arcuate'configuration having an inlet end to be supported against said frame and extend generally radially of the silo along an upwardly arching downwardly concave normal path through said side opening and roof region to locate a discharge end of the fill duct adjacent the vertical center axis of the silo, flange means rigidly joined to said inlet end defining a flat rectangular second frame to conform to and mate against said first frame, decouplable companion hinge means on a first corresponding portion of said first and second frames for collectively defining an inlet hinge to releasably interconnect said fill duct and first frame along a transverse inlet hinge axis immediately adjacent said upper margin and support the fill duct from said framework structure for swinging movement between a downwardly hanging position and a raised position occupying said normal path, and fastening means for removably securing together second portions of said frames spaced from said first portions.

2. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 1, including winch means on said framework structure, and cable means extending fromsaid winch means upwardly along said fill duct and releasably secured to the discharge end thereof for elevating the till duct with its inlet end above its discharge end to the level of said upper margin when said hinge means are decoupled and for angularly swinging the fill duct vertically about. said inlet hinge axis between said downwardly hanging and raises position when said hinge means are coupled.

3. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said hinge means comprises a pair of axially aligned and spaced first hinge knuckle segments on one of said first frame portions and a second hinge knuckle segment on the other of said first frame portions each having alignable bores, and an axially removable hinge pin extending through the bores of each of said hinge knuckle segments.

43. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said hinge means comprises a pair of axially aligned and spaced first hinge knuckle segments on one of said first frame portions and a second hinge knuckle segment on the other of said first frame portions each having alignable bores, and an axially removable hinge pin extending through the bores of each of said hinge knuckle segments.

5. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first frame means comprises four straight rigid framing members joined together at their ends to form said first frame surface each having a top outwardly projecting flange lying in a common substantially horizontal plane, a first and second one of said framing members being parallel to each other and respectively forming said first and second portions of said first frame, the first framing member lying immediately adjacent the silo wall at said upper margin, and the second framing member being spaced outwardly from said first framing member relative to the silo wall, and said second frame comprising straight members rigidly joined to the inlet end of said fill duct and having outwardly projecting flanges defining a flat rectangular frame conforming conforming to the upwardly facing surfaces of said top flanges of said framing members, the flanges of said first framing member and of the straight member of said second frame corresponding thereto having said companion hinge means secured thereto.

6. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said first frame means comprises four straight rigid framing members joined together at their ends to form said first frame and each having a top outwardly projecting flange lying in a common substantially horizontal plane. a first and second one of said framing members being parallel to each other and respectively forming said first and second portions of said first frame, the first framing member lying immediately adjacent the silo wall at said upper margin, and the second framing member being spaced outwardly from said first framing member relative to the siio wall, and said second frame comprising straight members rigidly joined to the inlet end of said fill duct and having outwardly projecting flanges defining a flat rectangular frame surface conforming to the upwardly facing surfaces of said top flanges of said framing members, the flanges of first framing member and of the straight member of said second frame corresponding thereto having said companion hinge means secured thereto.

7. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said first frame means comprises four straight rigid framing members joined together at their ends to form said first frame and each having a top outwardly projecting flange lying in a common substantially horizontal plane, a first and second one of said framing members being parallel to each other and respectively forming said first and second portions of said first frame, the first framing member lying immediately adjacent the silo wall at said upper margin, and the second framing member being spaced outwardly from said first framing member relative to the silo wall, and said second frame comprising straight members rigidly joined to the inlet end of said fill duc and having outwardly projecting flanges defining a flat rectangular frame surface conforming to the upwardly facing surfaces of said top flanges of said framing members, the flange of said first framing member and of the straight member of said second frame corresponding thereto respectively having said first and second hinge knuckle segments fixed thereon.

8. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said first frame means comprises four straight rigid framing members joined together at their ends to form said first frame and each having a top outwardly projecting flange lying in a common substantially horizontal plane, a first and second one of said framing members being parallel to each other and respectively forming said first and second portions of said first frame, the first framing member iying immediately adjacent the siio wall at said upper margin, and the second framing member being spaced outwardly from said first framing member relative to the silo wall, and said second frame comprising straight members rigidly joined to the inlet end of said fill duct and having outwardiy projecting flanges defining a flat rectangular frame surface conforming to the upwardly facing surfaces of said top flanges of said framing members, the flanges of said first framing member and of the straight member of said second frame corresponding thereto respectively having said first and second hinge knuckle segments fixed thereon.

9. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said fill duct comprises first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge end thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said first and second sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.

10. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said fill duct comprises first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate iocation near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transvem hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge end thereof radialiy outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said first and second sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.

ill. A gooseneck fill duet assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said fill duct comprises first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and inciuding intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge end thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said first and second sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.

12. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim t, wherein said fill duct comprises first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said first and second sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.

13. A gooseneck fill duct assembly for a tower silo including a silo wall having a vertical silage supply blower pipe extending externally therealong and a dome roof extending above the upper margin of the silo wall covering a roof region above said margin and having a side opening therein adjacent said upper region; the assembly comprising a mounting framework struc ture to be secured externally against said silo wali adjacent said upper margin having first frame means defining a substantially horizontal flat rectangular first frame surrounding said blower pipe outwardly adjacent said upper margin; a gooseneck fill duct of generally arcuate configuration having an inlet end to be supported against said frame surface and extend generally radially of the silo along an upwardly arching downwardly concave normal path through said side opening and roof region to locate a discharge end of the fill duct adjacent the vertical center axis of the silo, said fill duct comprising first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge end thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.

14 A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein said brace means comprises bracing members below said intermediate hinge means having spaced first end portions pivotally connected to said sections and adjacent second end portions connected together by a knuckle joint for overcenter latching of said bracing members to brace said second section in said normal position and for releasing said bracing members for upwardly folding movement accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.

15. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein the adjacent end portions of said first and second sections are aligned with each other in abutting relation when said second section occupies said normal position to form closed top and side duct walls for directing silage along said path from said inlet end to said discharge end, and said adjacent end being disposed in upwardly divergent angular relation when said second section occupies said retracted position presenting an opening for discharge of silage through the adjacent end of said first section into the roof region of the silo.

16. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 14. wherein the adjacent end portions of said first and second sections are aligned with each other in abutting relation when said second section occupies said normal position to form closed top and side duct walls for directing silage along said path from said inlet end to said discharge end, and said adjacent end being disposed in upwardly divergent angular relation when said second section occupies said retracted position presenting an opening for discharge of silage through the adjacent end of said first section into the roof region of the silo. 

1. A gooseneck fill dUct assembly for a tower silo including a silo wall having a vertical silage supply blower pipe extending externally therealong and a dome roof covering a roof region above the upper margin of the silo wall and having a side opening therein adjacent said upper margin; the assembly comprising a mounting framework structure to be secured externally against said silo wall adjacent said upper margin having first frame means defining a substantially horizontal flat rectangular first frame surrounding said blower pipe outwardly adjacent said upper margin; a gooseneck fill duct of generally arcuate configuration having an inlet end to be supported against said frame and extend generally radially of the silo along an upwardly arching downwardly concave normal path through said side opening and roof region to locate a discharge end of the fill duct adjacent the vertical center axis of the silo, flange means rigidly joined to said inlet end defining a flat rectangular second frame to conform to and mate against said first frame, decouplable companion hinge means on a first corresponding portion of said first and second frames for collectively defining an inlet hinge to releasably interconnect said fill duct and first frame along a transverse inlet hinge axis immediately adjacent said upper margin and support the fill duct from said framework structure for swinging movement between a downwardly hanging position and a raised position occupying said normal path, and fastening means for removably securing together second portions of said frames spaced from said first portions.
 2. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 1, including winch means on said framework structure, and cable means extending from said winch means upwardly along said fill duct and releasably secured to the discharge end thereof for elevating the fill duct with its inlet end above its discharge end to the level of said upper margin when said hinge means are decoupled and for angularly swinging the fill duct vertically about said inlet hinge axis between said downwardly hanging and raises position when said hinge means are coupled.
 3. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said hinge means comprises a pair of axially aligned and spaced first hinge knuckle segments on one of said first frame portions and a second hinge knuckle segment on the other of said first frame portions each having alignable bores, and an axially removable hinge pin extending through the bores of each of said hinge knuckle segments.
 4. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said hinge means comprises a pair of axially aligned and spaced first hinge knuckle segments on one of said first frame portions and a second hinge knuckle segment on the other of said first frame portions each having alignable bores, and an axially removable hinge pin extending through the bores of each of said hinge knuckle segments.
 5. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first frame means comprises four straight rigid framing members joined together at their ends to form said first frame surface each having a top outwardly projecting flange lying in a common substantially horizontal plane, a first and second one of said framing members being parallel to each other and respectively forming said first and second portions of said first frame, the first framing member lying immediately adjacent the silo wall at said upper margin, and the second framing member being spaced outwardly from said first framing member relative to the silo wall, and said second frame comprising straight members rigidly joined to the inlet end of said fill duct and having outwardly projecting flanges defining a flat rectangular frame conforming conforming to the upwardly facing surfaces of said top flanges of said framing members, the flanges of said first framing member and of the straight member of said second frame corresponding thereto having said companion hinge means secured thereto.
 6. A gooseneCk fill duct assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said first frame means comprises four straight rigid framing members joined together at their ends to form said first frame and each having a top outwardly projecting flange lying in a common substantially horizontal plane, a first and second one of said framing members being parallel to each other and respectively forming said first and second portions of said first frame, the first framing member lying immediately adjacent the silo wall at said upper margin, and the second framing member being spaced outwardly from said first framing member relative to the silo wall, and said second frame comprising straight members rigidly joined to the inlet end of said fill duct and having outwardly projecting flanges defining a flat rectangular frame surface conforming to the upwardly facing surfaces of said top flanges of said framing members, the flanges of said first framing member and of the straight member of said second frame corresponding thereto having said companion hinge means secured thereto.
 7. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said first frame means comprises four straight rigid framing members joined together at their ends to form said first frame and each having a top outwardly projecting flange lying in a common substantially horizontal plane, a first and second one of said framing members being parallel to each other and respectively forming said first and second portions of said first frame, the first framing member lying immediately adjacent the silo wall at said upper margin, and the second framing member being spaced outwardly from said first framing member relative to the silo wall, and said second frame comprising straight members rigidly joined to the inlet end of said fill duct and having outwardly projecting flanges defining a flat rectangular frame surface conforming to the upwardly facing surfaces of said top flanges of said framing members, the flange of said first framing member and of the straight member of said second frame corresponding thereto respectively having said first and second hinge knuckle segments fixed thereon.
 8. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said first frame means comprises four straight rigid framing members joined together at their ends to form said first frame and each having a top outwardly projecting flange lying in a common substantially horizontal plane, a first and second one of said framing members being parallel to each other and respectively forming said first and second portions of said first frame, the first framing member lying immediately adjacent the silo wall at said upper margin, and the second framing member being spaced outwardly from said first framing member relative to the silo wall, and said second frame comprising straight members rigidly joined to the inlet end of said fill duct and having outwardly projecting flanges defining a flat rectangular frame surface conforming to the upwardly facing surfaces of said top flanges of said framing members, the flanges of said first framing member and of the straight member of said second frame corresponding thereto respectively having said first and second hinge knuckle segments fixed thereon.
 9. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said fill duct comprises first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge end thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said first and second sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodatIng movement of said second section to said retracted position.
 10. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said fill duct comprises first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge end thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said first and second sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.
 11. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said fill duct comprises first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge end thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said first and second sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.
 12. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said fill duct comprises first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing the discharge thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said first and second sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.
 13. A gooseneck fill duct assembly for a tower silo including a silo wall having a vertical silage supply blower pipe extending externally therealong and a dome roof extending above the upper margin of the silo wall covering a roof region above said margin and having a side opening therein adjacent said upper region; the assembly comprising a mounting framework structure to be secured externally against said silo wall adjacent said upper margin having first frame means defining a substantially horizontal flat rectangular first frame surrounding said blower pipe outwardly adjacent said upper margin; a gooseneck fill duct of generally arcuate configuration having an inlet end to be supported against said frame surface and extend generally radially of the silo along an upwardly arching downwardly concave normal path through said side opening and roof region to locate a discharge end of the fill duct adjacent the vertical center axis of the silo, said fill duct comprising first and second duct sections respectively extending from said inlet end and said discharge end to an intermediate location near the uppermost level of said path and including intermediate hinge means interconnecting adjacent end portions of said first and second sections at a horizontal transverse hinge axis adjacent the bottom of the duct for downward swinging movement of the second section from a normal position in said path to a downwardly retracted position spacing thE discharge end thereof radially outwardly from said vertical center axis, and brace means interconnecting said sections for bracing said second section in said normal position and accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.
 14. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein said brace means comprises bracing members below said intermediate hinge means having spaced first end portions pivotally connected to said sections and adjacent second end portions connected together by a knuckle joint for overcenter latching of said bracing members to brace said second section in said normal position and for releasing said bracing members for upwardly folding movement accommodating movement of said second section to said retracted position.
 15. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein the adjacent end portions of said first and second sections are aligned with each other in abutting relation when said second section occupies said normal position to form closed top and side duct walls for directing silage along said path from said inlet end to said discharge end, and said adjacent end being disposed in upwardly divergent angular relation when said second section occupies said retracted position presenting an opening for discharge of silage through the adjacent end of said first section into the roof region of the silo.
 16. A gooseneck fill duct assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein the adjacent end portions of said first and second sections are aligned with each other in abutting relation when said second section occupies said normal position to form closed top and side duct walls for directing silage along said path from said inlet end to said discharge end, and said adjacent end being disposed in upwardly divergent angular relation when said second section occupies said retracted position presenting an opening for discharge of silage through the adjacent end of said first section into the roof region of the silo. 